BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3953, 23 April 1870, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

A meeting of the Central Board of Education was hold yesterday afternoon, at the Provincial Government Buildings. The members present were —Mr. Joseph May (who presided) ; Messrs. G, M. o'B.orke, P. M. P. JBrookfield, W, Swanson, and J. McCosh Clark. The Secretary and Inspector (Mr. O'Sulli. van) read the minutes of the previous meeting ; and they were confirmed, APPLICATIONS FOB AID, Waiuku. — Mr. Archibald Campbell wrote, on behalf of the Waiuku Committee, asking for a piece of land "for teacher's house, garden, and cow's grass ;" and indicating that section 6 or 7 would be suitable. — -The Secretary stated that he had asked the Waste Lands Commissioner as to the two sections ; and he was informed that they had been reserved, but were not education reserves, as included in the schedule to the Act of 1869. No. 6 comprised 13a. ; and No. 7, 23a. — Mr. Campbell stated in his letter that one of the greatest difficulties of the district hitherto had been to obtain a free house for the teacher ; and that he believed, if a site were given, subscriptions would at once be raised towards erecting the house. — It was resolved to ask the Superintendent to do what might be necessary, in order to give section 6 or 7 as a site. — Mr. Campbell further wrote that Mrs. Moore had been teaching the girls needlework during the past quarter ; and that, if the Board would give £10 a-year towards a salary, the committee j would be prepared to give an equal j amount, so as to secure Mrs. Moore's services. — In reply to questions, the Secretary said that, of the £],500 voted last session, £1,400 was appropriated, by the estimate before submitted as to what tho existing schools would need up to the 31st December. There would be about £250 more, coming from reserves. Of course, the £1,600 of lapsed votes from last year could only be applied to the improvement of reservos. — Mr. Swanson thought there were many reserves out of which money might be got at once. He was sur<j that the reserve at the North Shore, for instance, would let readily and well, and also to the benefit of the neighbourhood. There were many other reserves that had better be let, even if they brought but little rent. — Mr. Brookfield thought that the question of the Secretary's salary should be considered before any more money was granted out of what was available for the year. The Secretary had last year only nine months' salary at the rate of £150 a year ; and there was no provision made for this year, as yet. — Mr. Clark thought it would be well if there was a modification of the Act, so as not to lock up lapsed votes ; and that the better plan would be, not to improve the reserves, but to let them on improvement leases. — Mr. Swanson said he had before urged that plan. — The £10 was granted ; Mrs, Moorea salary to commence as from April Ist. Kaurihohori.— The committee reported that at a meeting of settlers to consider the terms proposed by the Board, subscriptions had been promised to enable the offer of assistance towards teacher's salary to be accepted ; and that it had been determined to erect a building, for church and school, on part of section 23, if it could be had. — An application to the Superintendent, similar to that in the case of Waiuku, was ordered. Mount Albert. — Further correspondence as to a proposed school-house was read. The committee agreed to eon* ey half an acre of land to the Board, as a site,' and to repay in five years the money (£100) to be advanced. — After a long conversation, it was resolved that the £100 be granted out of the £1,600, on the terms specified, if the committee conveyed an acre of land, instead of half an acre. Pensioner Villages. — Tha Secretary to the Superintendent wrote, forwarding returns (for which application had been made to his Honor) as to the number of children in the Pensioner villages, " whose parents may be deemed unable to pay the ordinary school fees." — The returns were read. — Mr. Brookfield commented on some of the cases. — Mr. May said that, in some instances, the drinking of the parents seemed to be the reason why they could not pay ; but still the children of such people ought to be educated, by some means. — Mr. Swanson thought that if the Board or the Government began taking children off people's hands, and educating or clothing them, there would be plenty to do in that way before long. — It was ordered that the returns be laid on the table. — [An abstract of tho documeats will be found in another column.] — Mr. O'Rorke was surprised at the return as to Panmure. The Board had not done anything in the way of paying school-fees for the children of those who were really unable to pay them, but so to pay fees would be a very good thing. — The Secretary said that the applications for help from Panmure and Otahuhu were of course still before the Board. — It was agreed that the whole subject should be considered at the next meeting. Turanga Creek. — The committee applied for a grant of some reading books, and for a few maps of Europe and Asia, for which they could not pay, there being already a. debt of £10 on account of the building. — The Secretary (in reply to questions) said that the school was very well conducted ; the average attendance was 15 ; and there was a grant of £40 towards teacher's salary, the district giving in fees and by subscriptions about as much more. — Mr. Brookfield and Mr. O'Rorke agreed that the Board could not give the books and maps. —Mr. Swanson thought it would be well in future to see that there was a proper supply of books, &c. , before any grant towai'ds teacher's salary was made. —It was resolved that the committee be informed that the books and maps would be supplied (in terms of the Act) on payment of their cost price. Parua Bay. — The consideration of a letter from this district was postponed until the next meeting, in order that Dr. Nicholson might be present. THE SECRETARY'S SALARY. Mr. Brookfield said that the only salary received by the Secretary and Inspector last year was for nine months, at the rate of £150 a year. Looking at the increased duties Mr. O'Sullivan had now to perform — and which would continue to increase —he (Mr. Brookfield) thought that £150 was not a sufficient salary. Mr. O'Rorke said that he last year recommended — as the working of the Act wa3 but an experiment — that something like half salary only should be paid, and that the office should be given to some gentleman holding a Government appointment. Mr. Brookfield thought that the Secretary should state generally the duties he had to perform. The Sesretaiy said that he had to inspect all the schools; there was a great deal of correspondence, and a great many persons to be seen ; the reserves had to be looked after; and, generally, he was kept at the office until dark, and then had to take vrork home. The work was so great, that he could not undertake to act as Inspector after the end of this year. Mr. O'llorke regarded a new Act next session as a necessity. In view of all the circumstances, he had pleasure in proposing that the salary be at the rate of £200 a year. The amount received by Mi 1 . O'Sullivan as clerk to the Provincial Council was last session reduced from £250 to £150, on the ground that' it would be made up in connection with tho other offices he held ; and what was now proposed would put him in just the position he held before, namely, of \ receiving £400 a year in all — £150 from the Council, £50 from the Grammar School, and £200 from the Board. I Mr. Prookfield seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The question of travelling expenses was { postponed, with a view to consulting the I Superintendent, so as to place the Inspector J on the same footing aa other Government officers. Some routine business was transacted, and,. the meeting was adjoxirned.

When Haddock's wife kicked him. out* of bed, he said, "Look here, now, if you cto' that again it will be likely to cans© a coldness in lhi<" fonnlv."